OLD KALLANG AIRPORT PARK DEVELOPMENT COSTS

Mr A. P. Rajah asked the Minister for National Development what is the total cost of the Old Kallang Airport Park Development; what are the cost of the materials used in the development and the cost of labour employed in connection therewith; and whether the cost of the development has been or is being charged to a City Council vote or a Government vote, or to both.

Mr Ong Eng Guan: Mr Speaker, the total cost of the Kallang Park project is estimated at $503,903. - comprising: $ c. Materials 347,275 29 Labour 141,255 29 Transport 15,372 78

There are more than 50 items of materials, but I have classified them under a few broad categories: $ c. Purchase of bricks, 86,850 12 cement, concrete slabs, sand, grass-cutter, plants, trees and various other materials $ c. Payment to contractors 144,329 84 for laying sub-mains, construction of bathing pools, railings, public conveniences, turfing, etc. Sundries, like hire of 3,510 33 portable latrines from City Council, repairs to machinery, etc. Street lamps 77,585 00 Outstanding bills for 35,000 00 materials estimated Labour is classified into two categories: City Council and P.W.D. 135,306 37 labour which is transferred to this Kallang project Outside labour 5,949 02 Transport:- City Council lorries, 11,068 56 which is a transfer item to this Vote Outside lorries 4,304 22

Mr Speaker, the total cost is being charged to City Council votes. The expenditure of nearly half a million dollars, out of which $150,000 are transfer items, which is not the real cost, leaving a total expenditure of $350,000, compares favourably with the $3 million estimated by the previous City Council for the development of the former Kallang Airport into a public park and recreational space.

This project had been discussed by the old Government since 1955 and (there is a big file in my possession) no work had been done. The files and correspondence have been built up for four or five years, and it is only when the P.A.P. Government came in that work was started immediately and completed.